The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 24

“Exile to the Northern Lands?” Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. At least it’s not execution, she thought, but exile to the Northlands at this time of year seemed just as deadly.

Surviving the journey under the guards’ watch would require sheer luck, let alone enduring the increasingly harsh conditions. It was already September, and the forced march to the Northlands would take three months, meaning they’d arrive around the peak of winter. Without proper shelter, they’d likely freeze to death in that foreign land—the mere thought sent shivers down her spine.

But Jiang Yan quickly dismissed the worry. She had allies. If she couldn’t survive even with their help, she’d be utterly hopeless. Her only concern was for the Eldest Miss, who would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

She took Tan Qianyue’s icy hand, trying to offer some warmth.

“Change into prison garb! Hurry up!” a guard barked from outside.

Tan Qianyue stared in shock at the coarse gray prison uniform in her hands, the large “Prisoner” character branded across it. Only now did she truly grasp her status — no longer the lofty Eldest Miss, but a captive stripped of all dignity.

Observing the chaotic scene outside, Jiang Yan quickly layered the prison clothes over her black robes. She tucked the long hems into the baggy trousers, instantly adding bulk to her frame.

“Stop dawdling! Hurry up, they’ll kick us out any minute now.” Jiang Yan grabbed the Eldest Miss’s prison uniform and helped her put it on.

“Don’t take off your clothes. It’ll get colder the further we go, so layering up is best. Plus, wearing thicker clothes will hide your figure.” Jiang Yan adjusted Tan Qianyue’s skirt, wrapping the excess fabric around her waist, instantly making her slender willow waist appear much bulkier.

The other inmates were also scrambling to gather their belongings amidst the chaos. Sima Jing still seemed dazed, but the situation demanded compliance. Within minutes, they would all be forced to don their prison uniforms, shackles clanging as they lined up outside.

Tan Qianyue’s shoes were already a size or two too big, making them slip off her feet. Now, with thick stacks of silver notes stuffed inside, they rubbed painfully against her soles.

Jiang Yan glanced down and noticed Tan Qianyue stomping her foot in discomfort. Her heels kept slipping out with each step. Knowing they faced a long journey through crowded streets where it would be impossible to adjust the silver notes, Tan Qianyue wore a pained expression.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yan asked, noticing her discomfort.

“I hid silver notes in my shoes, and they’re digging into my feet!” Tan Qianyue whispered.

“How much are you hiding? Enough to make your feet hurt? If you trust me, leave them with me. I promise they won’t go missing.” The Eldest Miss must be carrying a substantial amount of silver notes; keeping them on her person is far too risky. If discovered, it could endanger both her and anyone else involved.

Tan Qianyue’s water-clear eyes remained fixed on Jiang Yan, as if weighing her options.

“Alright, I’ll leave them with you,” she finally said, her gaze hardening with resolve.

Bending down, she retrieved the silver note pouches from both shoes and handed them to Jiang Yan behind her back. Jiang Yan swiftly transferred the pouches into her Electronic Storage.

Without the silver notes, Tan Qianyue’s shoes became even looser, threatening to slip off with every step.

Noticing her ill-fitting shoes, Jiang Yan swiftly tore two strips of white cloth from her inner garment and twisted them into a makeshift cord.

“Everyone out! Everyone out! Finally cleared! My back’s killing me after all this work!” The sound of cell doors being unlocked echoed from the front.

Realizing they were running out of time, Jiang Yan retrieved a small awl from her Spatial Storage and concealed it in her sleeve. Bending down, she carefully pierced four small holes in the sides of Tan Qianyue’s oversized shoes, threaded the cloth cord through the holes, and tightly secured it around her ankles.

Tan Qianyue watched Jiang Yan’s swift movements in astonishment, ignoring the clamor outside. Her gaze lingered on Jiang Yan’s bent figure as she tied the strips, admiring her well-defined brow bones, high yet gentle nose, and sharply contoured jawline—a face both beautiful and comforting.

For some reason, Tan Qianyue always forgot that Jiang Yan was several years younger than her.

“What are you looking at?” Jiang Yan asked, straightening up.

“Oh, nothing,” Tan Qianyue replied.

“Then let’s get ready to go. It’s probably our turn soon.” Jiang Yan rose to her feet, having finished her preparations.

Tan Qianyue took a few steps forward. The shoes were indeed much more comfortable now.

Two days earlier, the Third Miss, Tan Xue’er—Tan Qianyue’s full-blooded younger sister, who had been studying abroad—had been found by government officials and thrown into prison. Now, Xiao Concubine and her family were reunited, along with Sima Jing.

As for Tan Qianyue and Jiang Yan, they were the only two remaining members of the First Branch.

Clang, clang, clang—the prison echoed with the sound of iron chains clashing against each other. Due to the long journey to the Northlands, the prisoners were only shackled with iron handcuffs, not leg irons, to avoid hindering their march.

Having been deprived of sunlight for so long, Tan Qianyue found herself unable to open her eyes fully when she first saw the bright daylight.

Outside the prison, a vast procession of prisoners stretched out—roughly a hundred or so individuals, all family members of disgraced officials. Once ladies and gentlemen, young masters and mistresses, they were now stripped of their status and reduced to lowly prisoners.

The maids, servants, and old retainers of each household were all sold off anew, while only the masters and mistresses were sent into exile in the Northlands.

Tan Manor, including Maternal Uncle Tan’s family of four, totaled only ten people. Prince Fu’an’s Manor had a larger retinue of around thirty. The combined number of other officials’ family members came to roughly fifty or sixty.

“Miss, Miss, I’ve finally found you!” Ying Hong rushed to Tan Qianyue’s side.

“What are you doing here? Weren’t you assigned to a new master?” Tan Qianyue frowned at Ying Hong, who was now dressed in prison garb and crowding close to her.

“Miss, I want to stay with you. You’ve never suffered like this before. If I’m with you, I can at least take care of you a little. Besides, I don’t want to serve any other new master,” Ying Hong insisted, her gaze unwavering.

“How did the guards let you come along? You’re not family. Even if you wanted to go into exile with them, they might not have agreed.”

“During the interrogation, I claimed to be the daughter of Miss’s wet nurse, her sworn sister. They counted me in then,” Ying Hong said, avoiding Tan Qianyue’s eyes.

“You’re such a fool! Do you even know how perilous the journey to the Northern Lands will be?” Tan Qianyue asked, her expression grave and disapproving.

“Well, I’m here now. Miss, please let me stay with you!”

“My agreement is irrelevant. You’re not going anywhere now.”

“Then this servant will stay with Miss,” Ying Hong replied. An orphan since the age of five, she had been purchased by Madam Tan and had served Tan Qianyue ever since. With nowhere else to go and no desire to serve a new master, she knew that while the Northlands were harsh, her fate would be equally precarious under any new master.

An hour remained before their departure—time specifically allotted for farewells from family and friends. Gifts of silver, clothing, and food were permitted, provided the prisoners could carry them themselves.

Though officially prohibited, such arrangements were tacitly tolerated. Escorting prisoners was a grueling task, and a little extra compensation could soften the guards’ demeanor. It was an unspoken custom: families with means naturally wished to ease their loved ones’ suffering.

Madam Jiang and Madam Yu had barely slept since learning of Jiang Yan’s implication in the case and impending exile. They arrived at the Imperial Prison before dawn, hoping to catch the eye of the Captain leading the escort and offer him silver to show leniency toward Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue, perhaps even allowing them extra water along the way.

“A-Yan, A-Yan, what will we do?” Madam Yu sobbed, clutching Jiang Yan’s hand. “I may have scolded and even hit you sometimes, but I never imagined you’d be sent to such a desolate, freezing place to suffer!”

“Mother, I’m fine. It’s thanks to the beatings I endured as a child that I’ve grown so tough. Otherwise, this journey would have been unbearable. My younger sister is more capable than me; I feel much more at ease knowing she’ll be taking care of you both. Please take care of yourselves and don’t worry about me. I’ll be comfortable wherever I am. Really, there’s no need to fret.” Jiang Yan had barely found her mother, only to lose her again. Perhaps she was destined to have no family.

“I’ve arranged for Captain Lu to escort you. He won’t trouble you on the road. Take care, my daughter. You’re as resilient as a weed; you’ll reach the Northlands safely. When your sister makes something of herself, perhaps there will be a chance for you to return.” Madam Jiang bid Jiang Yan farewell with solemn sincerity, but her words only made Madam Yu weep harder.

Jiang Yan forced a wry smile. By the time her sister grew up and became successful enough to “rescue” her, she’d likely have already taken root in the Northlands.

Still, she was grateful for the chance to say goodbye to her family and friends. Like a drifting duckweed, she’d settle wherever the current carried her.

All packages for the prisoners had to be inspected by the guards before being delivered. Madam Yu had stayed up all night sewing two thick padded coats, even patching them with scraps to make them look worthless, though the cotton padding was new.

The coats were sewn with two large pockets on the inside, designed for maximum convenience and practicality. Though too warm for September weather, they would be perfect once the group left the Imperial City vicinity later that month.

“Time to depart! Everyone else, return to your posts!” Captain Wei barked, his broadsword hanging at his waist and his face as fierce as a demon god. Nearly a hundred soldiers stood behind him.

Three officers were assigned to escort the prisoners. Captain Wei, a seasoned veteran in his thirties or forties, led the operation. Having escorted prisoners four or five times before, he was a seasoned hand. His second-in-command, Captain Lu, was equally experienced, a fellow Male Qianyuan.

Overseeing the entire operation was Imperial Commissioner Miao Fengqing, a stern-faced Supervising Director with the military rank of Seventh Grade. A young and capable Female Qianyuan, she had actively sought this assignment to gain practical experience.

Her fifty personal guards joined Captain Wei’s hundred soldiers, forming a 150-strong escort for the official family members.

At the appointed hour, nearly a hundred members of the official families, accompanied by the 150 officers, departed from the Imperial Prison and left the Capital in a grand procession.

Throughout the journey, the only sounds were the rhythmic clatter of footsteps and the clinking of iron chains. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, as if the road led straight to the depths of hell.

Zhou Yun and Ming Shu watched Jiang Yan being led away in chains, sighing deeply. They had once envied Jiang Yan for finding such a good wife—wealthy, beautiful, and the daughter of the Prime Minister. Now, seeing how fortune and misfortune were intertwined, they felt a pang of pity for her.

Doctor Lu arrived with a Kunze woman to bid farewell to Tan Qianyue. She said nothing, offering only a silent farewell.

She had already given Jiang Yan everything she could that day. Now, bringing her beloved to say goodbye to her friend, she felt even more grateful that Tan Qianyue had someone by her side.

Tan Qianyue understood Doctor Lu’s meaning. The cold-faced woman beside her must be the Master of the lantern. Her aloof demeanor suggested Lu Yin’s days of carefree living were likely over.

The woman walked straight to Miao Fengqing and whispered something. The Imperial Commissioner glanced at Tan Qianyue and nodded.

Lu Yin shot Tan Qianyue a triumphant look, hinting that the two women knew each other.

Tan Qianyue nodded to Doctor Lu in thanks.

And with that, they parted ways.

Jiaojiao, unaware that her benefactor had been exiled, continued her daily routine, missing the final farewell.

The Tan Family had no relatives or friends in the Capital except for their in-laws, Prince Fu’an’s Manor. Now, they would reunite with them on the road to exile.

With her hands bound less than a meter apart, Jiang Yan tightly secured the bundle containing her padded jacket to her body. Inside, she had hidden an earthen-gray waterskin, which she tied around her waist beneath her prison uniform.

The waterskin was neither too large nor too small, making it inconspicuous when worn at the waist.

Jiang Yan glanced at Tan Qianyue, who remained in good spirits despite the morning’s trek under the scorching autumn sun. Her face was flushed red, her lips slightly dry, and her wrists sagged under the weight of the iron chains.

They had already passed through the city gates. Stretching before them was a wide, dusty road that seemed to extend endlessly into the horizon, flanked by towering white poplar trees. The prisoners were denied the shade offered by the dense foliage.

“Can you keep going?” Jiang Yan asked, glancing at the blazing sun overhead and noticing the fine beads of sweat on Tan Qianyue’s face.

Tan Qianyue merely frowned and nodded, unwilling to waste precious saliva on speech.

Jiang Yan wanted to offer her some water, but everyone was desperately thirsty. If others discovered her waterskin, they might fight over it like madmen, only for the guards to confiscate it in the end.

Tan Qianyue licked her parched lips, her listless gaze falling on the cloth wrapped around her wrist. She shuddered to think what would have happened without it—the iron chains would have surely scraped off a layer of skin by now.

Miao Fengqing rode her horse back and forth along the column, eventually approaching Captain Wei. “It’s midday and sweltering,” she said. “Perhaps we should rest and drink some water before continuing our journey.”

“This is nothing,” Captain Lu said dismissively from his horse. “If they can’t even withstand this bit of sun, they’ll never make it to the Northlands.”

“Exactly, Little Miao,” Captain Wei chimed in. “You’re still young and don’t know the hardships of the exile road. It takes sheer grit to survive to the end. Now that the Imperial Court has exiled these people, their fates are in the hands of fate. No one can say how many will actually reach the Northlands.”

Though their words sounded reasonable on the surface, they were merely shifting responsibility while intimidating the prisoners. After all, Captain Wei held the power of life and death over most of this group.

Miao Fengqing frowned deeply. “Captain Wei, Her Majesty sent me here to oversee the exiles, not to send them all to Western Paradise. Even if we can’t delay our journey, they still need a moment or two to relieve themselves.”

Her tone was firm.

“Alright, alright,” Captain Wei chuckled, playing the benevolent elder. “For Lord Miao’s sake, we’ll let the prisoners rest for two quarters of an hour before setting off again.”

But behind his friendly smile, his triangular eyes flashed with malice. What does this pampered noble brat know about hardship? he thought. Daring to meddle with old Wei? Hmph, just wait and see. The real show is just beginning.

Both the convicts and the guards took turns relieving themselves. Due to the large number of prisoners, all of whom were convicted of serious crimes, the number of guards nearly doubled the number of convicts. Each guard carried a broadsword, and not a single prisoner dared to resist along the way.

“Hurry up, let’s go relieve ourselves too,” Jiang Yan urged.

“I can’t move anymore. I don’t want to go,” Tan Qianyue whispered, shaking her head weakly. Her eyelids drooped heavily; without water, she didn’t need to relieve herself.

“You do want to go. Just listen to me,” Jiang Yan winked conspiratorially.

“Alright,” Tan Qianyue agreed, struggling to her feet.

Jiang Yan grabbed her hand and quickly led her into the crowd of unfamiliar faces. When they reached a patch of overgrown weeds, they crouched down.

Jiang Yan unscrewed the water pouch, opened the lid, and held it to Tan Qianyue’s lips. “Drink quickly, take a few big gulps.”

Tan Qianyue stared in astonishment at the water pouch in Jiang Yan’s hand, her eyes lighting up instantly.

“Hurry!”

She quickly parted her parched lips and drank deeply, taking two or three large gulps. The moment the cool, clear water touched her throat, she felt like a parched seedling, instantly revived by a refreshing rain.

Jiang Yan let her drink two more gulps before taking the pouch himself. He drank his fill, then swiftly fastened it back to his waist and covered it with his robe.

A faint smile finally appeared on Tan Qianyue’s face.

The prisoners’ rations consisted of a single daily meal: a fist-sized cornbread bun and a bowl of cold water.

Behind the prisoners were several carts laden with provisions, accompanied by the Mess Cooks responsible for preparing the meals. However, the supplies were clearly insufficient for the hundreds of people on the journey. Each time they reached a county seat, they could request relief rations from the local government, but the amount they received depended entirely on the officials’ discretion.

Having seen cornbread buns again, Tan Xue’er no longer turned up her nose at them. Gradually, she forced herself to finish them. The newly arrived Third Miss, at the peak of her growth spurt, had always been treated like royalty in the Prime Minister’s Residence. Suddenly being arrested and forced into exile with her family had unleashed her temper on her relatives. Xiao Concubine tried to pacify her with half of her own cornbread bun, but the Third Miss ruthlessly threw it to the ground.

“Aiyo, my little darling, what are you doing? This is sinful!” Xiao Concubine scolded softly, but her words had no effect.

“Qianyue, you’re the Eldest Sister. Please persuade your sister,” Xiao Concubine pleaded, passing the problem to Tan Qianyue when she couldn’t manage the Third Miss herself.

Tan Qianyue, standing a short distance away, retorted, “If you don’t want to eat it, just throw it all away, then?” With that, she turned her back and ignored them.

“Mother, why are you calling her?” the Third Miss, barely ten years old, harbored no affection for her Eldest Sister, who had usurped the Legitimate Daughter’s position, only resentment.

“Did you really expect her to say anything kind?” Tan Xue’er chimed in with a sarcastic remark.

Xiao Concubine suppressed the scheming glint in her eyes and fell silent.

Jiang Yan turned her back to study her System. Train your troops for a thousand days, use them for a single battle. Now was the time for it to shine.

She had 500 gold coins, but how to spend them was the question. What she needed most were food and daily necessities. She couldn’t afford to waste money on strange, useless items.

Her fingers flew across the screen, spending 1 coin, 5 coins, 10 coins at a time until the total dropped to 400.

From Tan Qianyue’s perspective, Jiang Yan was merely fidgeting with her fingers. She assumed the Eldest Miss was tired.

Jiang Yan had purchased 20 blind boxes and was now opening them one by one.

Golden treasure chests burst open in a dazzling display. Food, food, food… necessities, necessities, necessities, she chanted silently.

Items materialized on the screen: two pounds of mung bean cakes, one pound of braised beef, and a family-sized bucket of fried chicken. Jiang Yan’s expression froze for a moment at the sight of the last item.

Although… but… the System really doesn’t care if I live or die. How did it even give me a family bucket?

Three pounds of candied hawthorn berries, six pounds of cotton candy, four loaves of bread, ten pounds of white rice.

Three tomatoes, two apples, a bunch of bananas.

Jiang Yan was delighted with the blind box pulls until she got: Sanitary Pads ×1, Sanitary Pads ×2, ×3, ×4, ×5, ×6, ×7, ×8, ×9, ×10. She stared in disbelief. Is this all one gold coin can buy? Still, she wasn’t complaining. Anything useful was welcome right now.

After spending a hundred gold coins, Jiang Yan felt refreshed and invigorated.

Having finished her tasks, she noticed Tan Qianyue pitifully gnawing on a cornbread bun. There was nothing she could do; they could only cook privately at night.

Jiang Yan placed her hand on Tan Qianyue’s other wrist, subtly massaging her aching, fatigued wrist. Then she noticed Tan Qianyue’s striking face. Though Tan Qianyue deliberately hid half her face with her hair, it wasn’t enough to ensure safety. In a few days, when the bored officials grew restless, who knew if they might seek entertainment from a beautiful Kunze?

I’ll study Doctor Lu’s medicine pouch again tonight.

“Hurry up! Move faster! Get to Qinghe Post Station before dark!” The official, whip in hand, cracked it behind the prisoners, striking anyone who displeased him.

Forced to their feet after eating their cornbread, the prisoners resumed their march.

Hearing the mention of the post station, Jiang Yan felt a flicker of relief. But with over two hundred people in their group, even if they reached the station, the rooms would be reserved for the officials, leaving nothing for the prisoners.

Nearly four hours later, under a pitch-black sky, the group finally arrived at Qinghe Post Station, their way lit by torches. The young ladies and gentlemen shivered violently from the cold.

Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue, wrapped in two or three layers of clothing, barely managed to withstand the night’s chill.

This weather—freezing at dawn and dusk, scorching at midday—drove everyone to endless complaints.

Just as Jiang Yan had predicted, even the rooms allocated to the officials were insufficient, leaving no shelter for the prisoners. Instead, they found crude cloth beds stretched across wooden frames in a large, open courtyard.

Jiang Yan grabbed Tan Qianyue’s hand and swiftly chose a frame that looked relatively sturdy.

Jiang Yan tested the hammock’s sturdiness. It seemed unlikely to collapse in the middle of the night, but other concerns remained. After all, many of the wooden-framed beds were missing limbs or had gaping holes in the middle. She was grateful for her quick reflexes; finding a decent bed had been a real challenge.

Tan Qianyue, still dazed from being hurried along by Jiang Yan, sat down on the bed in a daze. Though she was capable both at home and outside, the current situation left her mind reeling and her body struggling to keep up.

The unfamiliar food, the unfamiliar lodging, even the water tasted slightly bitter. She was utterly bewildered.

The roughly meter-wide hammock hung suspended between four sturdy wooden posts. Adjacent to it was another bed, forming a row of thirty to forty in total. Most were crowded with two or three people, but the hammocks couldn’t comfortably accommodate that many. Typically, the family’s children and elderly members got priority.

Ying Hong followed closely behind the pair, finding an empty spot to settle down.

Jiang Yan helped Tan Qianyue onto the hammock. The swaying motion made her unsteady, and she nearly lost her balance. Jiang Yan suppressed a smile; laughing at her wife’s misery would be unkind.

Steadying the cloth bed with one leg, Jiang Yan easily squeezed in beside Tan Qianyue.

She pulled out two padded jackets from her bundle, using one as a pillow and the other as a blanket to cover both of them.

Beneath the jacket, Tan Qianyue’s soft body pressed tightly against Jiang Yan’s. The faint scent of fresh grass emanating from her made Jiang Yan want to draw closer.

Compared to Jiang Yan, she was far more familiar with this scent…

“How’s your foot?” Jiang Yan asked, remembering how Tan Qianyue had struggled to walk all day, barely able to drag herself to Qinghe Post Station.

Jiang Yan herself was no stranger to long journeys, and the Original Host had possessed remarkable stamina. She estimated they could last about two months on their own.

“It hurts terribly,” Tan Qianyue pouted, her voice trembling with a delicate, coquettish tremor that exploded softly in Jiang Yan’s ear.

“Oh, could it be blisters?” Jiang Yan replied. Even her own feet weren’t in much better shape.

“Just cover yourself with the jacket and sleep,” Jiang Yan said, intending to tend to their feet.

“Where are you going? Don’t leave!” Tan Qianyue clung to her, afraid she would leave.

“I’m not going anywhere. If we don’t treat the blisters, they’ll hurt even more tomorrow.” Jiang Yan sat up and began removing Tan Qianyue’s shoes.

Tan Qianyue, feeling embarrassed by her disheveled state, tried to resist.

“It’s okay, let me wipe it for you,” Jiang Yan said, grabbing Tan Qianyue’s foot. She retrieved a damp cloth from the Electronic Storage and gently wiped her ankle.

Having spent two months living on the streets, Jiang Yan had stocked the Electronic Storage with various useful items, hoarding a bit of everything.

Tan Qianyue’s eyes widened as she felt the wet cloth on her foot, but she still flinched when it touched the blistered areas.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt much,” Jiang Yan reassured her. After a moment’s thought, she pulled out a round piece of candy and popped it into the Eldest Miss’s mouth.

Tan Qianyue tasted the sweetness and, puzzled, gripped Jiang Yan’s hand, her beautiful eyes fixed on her in the dim light.

Jiang Yan leaned down and whispered in her ear, “It’s candy. I have more. Just enjoy the sweetness for now.”

Then, she retrieved a clean sewing needle. Using the glow from the large screen, she could clearly see Tan Qianyue’s foot, though to anyone else, the area remained pitch-black.

Tan Qianyue buried her face in her padded coat, savoring the unfamiliar taste of the candy.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain made her wince, her hands clenching involuntarily around the coat.

In moments, something soft and fluffy was pressed against her foot.

Jiang Yan wrapped Tan Qianyue’s foot in several layers of clean cotton, then tore off excess strips of fabric to secure the bandage. This would make walking much more comfortable tomorrow and make it easier to wear shoes.

Tan Qianyue curled up under the quilt, her heart and cheeks burning with warmth.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to lie down after finishing, several distant screams pierced the silent, frigid night, their eerie echoes carrying through the darkness.